- Kroc Center
A Kroc Center (formally known as a Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center) is one of many community centers run by the
Salvation Army . The purpose and mission statements of the Kroc Centers are:quote
PURPOSE:The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center provides opportunities that facilitate positive, life-changing experiences through: arts, athletics, personal development, spiritual discovery and community service.MISSION:Motivated by God’s love, The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center’s mission is to meet the needs of its community through:
* Boundless Opportunity
* Experiential Knowledge
* Holistic Growth
* Progressive Challenge
* Relevant Skill
*Meaningful SuccessKroc Center San Diego
Upon her death in 2003,
Joan Kroc , the widow ofMcDonald’s restaurants founderRay Kroc , bequeathed $1.6 billion to The Salvation Army solely for the purpose of establishing centers of opportunity, education, recreation and inspiration throughout the United States to be known as "The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center".According to the trust, a Kroc Center is to be highly visible and easily accessible, to be within reach of various economic groups with particular outreach to underserved families, to provide high quality service within world-class facilities, and to include programs involving education, fitness, arts and worship. These centers are to be owned and operated by
The Salvation Army .The first Salvation Army Kroc Center is located in the Rolando area of San Diego, California at 6845 University Avenue. The location was selected for its accessibility to families and seniors. The late philanthropist Joan Kroc donated $87 million to The Salvation Army in 1998. Forty-seven million dollars was designated to build and equip the facility and $40 million was placed into an endowment to subsidize the Center's operating budget.
Over 350 volunteers met for four years to plan the Center's facilities and programs. The Salvation Army Kroc Center opened to the public on June 19, 2002. Special guests for the dedication included Mrs. Joan Kroc,
Fred Rogers (star of the television show "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood "), local mayors, and key leadership of The Salvation Army.The facility is open to members and the general public and serves residents of East San Diego, La Mesa and Lemon Grove with a variety of quality programs for individuals of all ages. It is also the home court of the
San Diego Wildcats of the American Basketball Association.Kroc Center San Francisco
The San Francisco Kroc Center was the first of 30 planned Kroc Centers to open after the San Diego Premier location.
Kroc Center Atlanta
The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center Atlanta : A Center for Worship and Education is the next center after San Francisco. It is being constructed next to the Southern Territory's Evangeline Booth College. This center will be State-of-the-Art. It will feature a 400 seat Chapel/Auditorium. Arts Focus Rooms, a Dance studio, Computer Labs, a Library, Day Centers, Community Room with Industrial Kitchen, Family Oriented Programs, A Gymnasium with a Cafe, A well-staged Game room, Fitness Center, and Track. This Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (RJKCCC) will service Metro Atlanta.
Other Kroc Center Locations
Additional Kroc Centers are being established for the benefit of communities. The following cities, listed geographically by Salvation Army territories, have plans to build a Kroc center.
Southern Territory:
Atlanta, Georgia ;Augusta, Georgia ;Biloxi, Mississippi ;Charlotte, North Carolina ;Greenville, South Carolina ;Kerrville, Texas ;Louisville, Kentucky ;Memphis, Tennessee ;Tidewater, Virginia Western Territory:
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho ;Honolulu, Hawaii ;Long Beach, California ;Phoenix, Arizona ;Salem, Oregon ;San Francisco, California Eastern Territory:
Camden, New Jersey ;Massena, New York ;Staten Island, New York ;Boston, Massachusetts ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; andDayton, Ohio Central Territory: Chicago, Illinois;
Detroit, Michigan ;Grand Rapids, Michigan ;Green Bay, Wisconsin ;Omaha, Nebraska ;Quincy, Illinois ;St. Joseph County, Indiana The Kroc Center in
San Francisco, California broke ground in June 2006 and is expected to open in July 2008. The San Francisco Kroc Center received $53 million.Memphis, Tennessee is preparing for a Kroc Center to be established on the Memphis Fairgrounds and will receive $61 million.External links
* [http://kroccenter.org/ San Diego Kroc Center Web Site]
* [http://kroccenteratlanta.org/ Atlanta Kroc Center web site]
* [http://krocmemphis.org/ Memphis Kroc Center Web Site]
* [http://grkroccenter.org/ Grand Rapids Kroc Center Web Site]
* [http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf Salvation Army web site]
* [http://www.salemkroc.org/ Salvation Army Mid-Willamette Valley Kroc Center - Salem, OR]
* [http://www.camden.salarmykroc.org Camden, NJ Kroc Center Web Site]References
* [http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf/ce952dea4507ee7780256cf4005d2254/7dfccfd8d749eed280257196006d4413?OpenDocument Locations] retrieved on 10/15/2006
* [http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn%5Cwww_usn.nsf/vw-news/7F7BDC130839D79C80257196006B355E?opendocument San Francisco Kroc center] retrieved on 10/15/2006
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
